On just seven square miles, this town east of Brockton is one of the smallest by area in Massachusetts. Recognized for its shoemaking industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Whitman derived its name from a local philanthropist in the 1880s, shortly after achieving township status. Dairy farming has also been a longstanding tradition in Whitman. Notably, Peaceful Meadows transitioned into the ice cream business in the 1960s and has been operating a stand that has flourished for over 60 years. Speaking of sweet treats, Whitman is credited as the birthplace of the Toll House cookie, created at the Toll House Inn in the 1930s by Ruth Wakefield, who established a fruitful partnership with Nestlé that led to the publication of the recipe on their packaging.